The Northern Territory Controller of Water Resources, Ms Jo Townsend, has today welcomed a court's decision to fine a local mining company $344,000 for breaching its waste discharge licence.
The mining company, NRR Pty Ltd, accepted responsibility and last month pleaded guilty for discharging waste from an unauthorised discharge source to an unauthorised discharge point in the Towns River (near Borroloola) on multiple occasions in 2021.
Darwin Local Court Judge, David Woodroffe, issued four fines totalling $340,000 with an additional victims levy of $1000 for each of the fines.
Ms Townsend said today's outcome sends a strong message that breaches of waste discharge licences are taken seriously and will be investigated.
Quotes attributed to NT Controller of Water Resources, Jo Townsend
"I thank the environment officers who worked hard to investigate this matter and bring about a successful prosecution," Ms Townsend said.
"Licence holders have a responsibility to the environment and as the regulator, we treat all reports of pollution with the respect they deserve.
"NRR did not have any authorisation, justification or excuse for discharging the mining-affected wastewater in the manner they did."
Anyone with information about any pollution incidents is reminded to contact the NT EPA Pollution Hotline on 1800 064 567 so that they can be investigated, and appropriate action taken to prevent harm on the environment.
